China boosts Central Asian gas links

Beijing’s decision to expand the gas pipeline network linking it to Central Asia may threaten Russia’s eastern pivot

Pipechina has started construction on the fourth trunk of China’s West-East Pipeline (WEP) system, the state-owned company says. The route forms the backbone of the country’s gas supply infrastructure, including underpinning China’s ability to bring supply from Central Asia. The segment being built will run 1,745km from the Xinjiang regional capital of Urumqi to a terminal in Zhongwei county in China’s Ningxia region, where the three existing WEP trunks converge. WEP 4 will eventually be extended from Zhongwei to the financial hub of Shanghai, covering a total of 3,340km once all segments are completed. The WEP system is designed mainly to transport gas imported from Central Asia to the ener